United Nations and Congolese military officials say fighters loyal to a dissident army general have clashed with government troops, killing at least two soldiers.

An army commander in the Democratic Republic of Congo says forces loyal to Laurent Nkunda Saturday attacked army positions in the eastern village of Sake. The commander says two soldiers were killed, and THAT civilians are among the wounded.

U.N. officials say at least 12,000 villagers have fled the violence in Sake.

Nkunda is the leader of an eastern Congo militia group. His troops were involved in a similar incident in Sake in August. Fighters exchanged fire with the Congolese Army and killed one soldier.

Congo's government has yet to re-establish control over all parts of the country, four years after the end of a devastating civil war that dragged in six neighboring countries.